The first Test match between Bangladesh and South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka witnessed a dramatic shift in momentum when Proteas spinner Keshav Maharaj dismissed Bangladeshi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. This pivotal wicket shattered the burgeoning partnership between Shanto and Mahmudul Hasan Joy, leaving Bangladesh reeling.
Keshav Maharaj plans Najmul Hossain Shanto’s crucial dismissal
Shanto, who had looked solid at the crease, was undone by a well-flighted delivery from Maharaj. The South African spinner tossed up a ball outside off, and Shanto, attempting to defend, was trapped plumb in front. The umpire’s decision was swift and final, sending Shanto back to the pavilion for 23 runs.
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Earlier on the first day, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. However, their decision proved to be a costly one as they lost three of their top four batters within the first six overs. Despite their early struggles, Bangladesh managed to reach the 100-run mark, but they were ultimately bowled out for a paltry 106 runs.
South Africa’s dominant performance in the first Test
In response, South Africa’s batting lineup took control of the match. While they lost their captain Aiden Markram early on, the Proteas received valuable contributions from Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Wiann Mulder, and Kyle Verreynne.
Verreynne, in particular, played a crucial role, becoming the first South African wicket-keeper to score a century in Bangladesh. His impressive innings helped South Africa establish a substantial lead of 202 runs.
Early stumps on Day 2 due to bad light
As the day drew to a close, Bangladesh were still trailing by 101 runs, with a challenging task ahead of them on the third day. However, the second day’s play was unfortunately called off due to poor lighting, leaving the match within the grasp South Africa, where they could finish the match with an innings victory over Bangladesh.
Maharaj’s dismissal of Shanto was undoubtedly a turning point in the match, giving South Africa a significant advantage. With Bangladesh facing an uphill battle to recover, the second day of the Test promised to be a fascinating contest.
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